NewStats: 3,262,169 , 8,176,301 topics. Date: Sunday, 01 June 2025 at 06:26 AM v3d3k

Former governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke, on Tuesday said he would still take a shot at the presidency if the opportunity presented itself.

Duke spoke at a programme “The Nigerian Symposium for Emerging Leaders” held in Lagos.

He said though he once aspired to the position but did not emerge the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, he would still contest for the highest office in the country at the appropriate time.

Duke explained that it was because of his preference for the presidential seat that he did not vie for any federal legislative seat after serving out his as governor.

“I do not have the flair for the legislature; standing up and sitting down at the chambers to raise a point. That was why I did not contest for the Senate but the presidency, after serving out my term as governor.

“I have contested the presidency before; I will still give it a shot when the opportunity presents itself . I believe I still have the energy in me,” he said.

The former governor canvassed the reform of the country`s political system to accommodate wider participation and good governance.

He suggested the review of the electoral law to allow for independent candidacy.

Duke said the country`s democracy would fare better if young people, who form the larger proportion of the population ,took more active part in its political process.

He said most developed countries had young people as their leaders at one point or the other in their democratic history.

The former governor, however, said power was never given easily, urging young people to participate in the political process and use their prime to add value to the country.

“I want to urge young people in the country not to see leadership as if it belongs to some people, but do everything positive to be part of it.

“You can only make a difference at the prime of your life. You can actually add value now, not when you are above 50.

“So, you need to be part of the political process and play your part. It is your right to be there; nobody is doing you a favour.

“You represent more than 60 per cent of the population; you don’t have to beg for it.

“Just make effort to make that change and contribute your quota to nation building,“he said.

Duke urged government at all levels to be able and challenged the governed to demand more from their leaders.

Also speaking, former Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State decried lack of transparency and ability in government.

He said the situation was responsible for the level of corruption in the country and poor delivery of dividends of democracy.

Obi said the way out of the quagmire was for leaders to carry the governed along in budgetary spending and plans for effective tracking.

“The way forward is that governments should make their budgets more explicit and published. The plans and the money to be spent on them should be clearly stated.

“That is when people can track and make comparative analysis with previous budgets and then we can achieve some transparency,” he said.

The former governor also urged the masses to show more interest in the budget so as to keep leaders on their toes.

Mr Seun Onigbinde, Chief Executive Officer, BudgIt, an organisation with interest in ability in public finance, urged Nigerians to demand ability from their governments.

He also urged governments at all levels to always carry the people along in their budgetary proposals and implementation to achieve ability.

http://punchng.com/i-still-want-to-rule-nigeria-donald-duke/

Donald Duke, you are very qualified to rule Nigeria, and I will personally cast my vote for you.

nextprince:
Donald Duke, you are very qualified to rule Nigeria, and I will personally cast my vote for you.

Seconded

Not in this present dispensation. He's been out of politics for too long, it will take forever to climb to that level. He's qualified but Nigeria doesn't vote based on qualifications. We only do quota system

Finally, some sense

lofty900:
Not in this present dispensation.

Donald is over qualified to rule

nextprince:
Donald Duke, you are very qualified to rule Nigeria, and I will personally cast my vote for you.

samer here bro. I love that dude.

wao... nice one

better than those Old men. Donald 2019....

They will rather vote for a dying hausa man than this eminently qualified individual

Useless people

Make fayose or wike your vice and watch how the youths would turn out enmass to vote for you...

hmm.. here we go. But who will you

CROWNWEALTH019:
Make fayose or wike your vice and watch how the youths would turn out enmass to vote for you...

for Wike as Vice, am good but Fayose? hmmm...na error o

Ezenwammadu:
They will rather vote for a dying hausa man than this eminently qualified individual

Useless people

okay

If the youths turn out en masse to vote, anybody can win elections in Nigeria.
The problem is most people have this "elections will be rigged anyways, why bother myself " mentality.
So the elites just rig and business as usual continues.

It's high time for a democratic revolution in naija

ok

rose54321:
If the youths turn out en masse to vote, anybody can win elections in Nigeria.
The problem is most people have this "elections will be rigged anyways, why bother myself " mentality.
So the elites just rig and business as usual continues.

It's high time for a democratic revolution in naija

Revolution you said?

Now ask yourself, who is ready to die for Nigeria. Are you?

Unless that answer is YES, Revolution will never find its way in Naija.

donald trump...sowie donald duke..u sae wetin?

Now Duke get ready, you have been endorsed for 2019 presidential election. The campaign starts right here in the largest online arena of Africa.
If the outcome favours you,then you are good to go come 2019.
Now the voting begins......like if you think Dr Duke is good to go as a presidential candidate come 2019,share if you think otherwise.
Goodluck.

I this , I also think Osita chidoka will make be a great President

I can only imagine what our trajectory would have been if his smart lawyer succeeded OBJ instead of Yar'adua

I love Donald Duke but trust me, he can only win on Nairaland

DONSMITH123:


for Wike as Vice, am good but Fayose? hmmm...na error o

2 south south?

I dey laugh o!

E go make sense wella.



At least he's not like some vegetable I know

They want real Igbo not backyard arrangement.

Someone who can speak Igbo and wear the Red Cap.

Real Igbo with traceable ancestry in South East

Donald Duke is bae, that's the kind of leaders we should have

Jamila05:
I love Donald Duke but trust me, he can only win on Nairaland

I don't think so. He's widely recognised

Jamila05:
I love Donald Duke but trust me, he can only win on Nairaland

If French youths had this type of mentality Emmanuel Macron would certainly not be French President today.

May God eternally bless every Nigerian youth that will think differently and intellectuals like Donald Duke, Akinwumi Adesina, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, etc to rescue us from the current vultures we have now

CROWNWEALTH019:
Make fayose or wike your vice and watch how the youths would turn out enmass to vote for you...

this piece gat me thinking. . .

since 1999, have the northerners ever allowed themselves to be sidelined from that 2 positions? . . .can they even give it up?

We in the south gat tu think ooo. . .instead of throwing diz afonja-flatiron tantrums upandan. .we gatz think ooo